(Radio Iowa) — Three Iowa home health providers, including those in Logan and Red Oak, have agreed to a federal settlement involving Medicare claims. The judgment says three Iowa and two South Dakota companies submitted claims to Medicare for therapy services where the claims were false — or the medical conditions of the patients didn’t justify the need for skilled therapy services.

The judgment includes one-point-two million dollars against Sergeant Bluff Healthcare, 228-thousand dollars against Red Oak Healthcare, and 775-thousand dollars against Logan Healthcare. Federal officials say the companies were notified their claims for therapy services were inordinately high and the companies failed to take adequate steps to address their billing procedures. The five companies involved are all affiliates of Welcov Healthcare in Minnesota.

MANCHESTER, Iowa (AP) — A judge overseeing a trial to determine whether an eastern Iowa roadside zoo should be closed says she gagged on the ‘horrible stench” while touring the facility.
The Telegraph Herald reports that Judge Monica Wittig shared her reaction with those in attendance on Wednesday, the first day of the state trial in Manchester regarding Cricket Hollow Animal Park. Four plaintiffs have sued to have the animals removed and the zoo closed. It’s owned by Pam and Tom Sellner.

Wednesday’s proceedings included testimony by Tracey Kuehl, one of the four plaintiffs. Kuehl described the zoo stench during a 2012 visit and recalled seeing a lion repeatedly ramming itself into the side of the corncrib in which it was contained.

WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) — The Waukee school district has settled the last of three lawsuits filed by former employees who alleged they were retaliated against for exposing wrongdoing by the district’s former chief operating officer. The Waukee school board voted Wednesday to approve the $1 million settlement with Amy Patters. She said in her lawsuit filed in January last year that she was forced to resign after reporting her boss for mismanaging money and violating district policies.

She was administrative assistant for Eric Rose. A district investigation discovered that Rose had fabricated time cards, used school property for personal purposes and solicited money for his son’s hockey team from district vendors. Rose has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from the allegations.

In May last year the district paid a $175,000 settlement to former operations manager Nicholas Bavas. His lawsuit said he was forced to quit after reporting Rose’s conduct. In January 2018 the school board approved a nearly $1 million settlement with former Human Resources Director Terry Welker, who also reported Rose’s actions.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 51-year old Jack Alan Tacner, of Missouri Valley, was arrested at around 11:35-p.m. Wednesday, following a traffic stop on I-29 at mile marker 55. Tacner was taken into custody for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. His bond was set at $2,000. And, an inmate at the Pott. County Jail was served with a warrant, Wednesday, for Violation of Probation. 25-year old Cody James Taylor, of Council Bluffs, was presented with the warrant and then returned to the custody of Corrections Staff.

Police in Creston, Wednesday, arrested a woman on a Theft charge. 33-year old Christina Marie Savage-Doolittle, of Creston, was arrested at around 12:45-p.m. at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for Theft in the 4th Degree. She was later released on a $1,000 bond. And, at around 9:40-a.m., Wednesday, 27-year old Brandon James Case, of Afton, was arrested in Creston for Driving While Suspended. He was later released on a $300 bond.